The History of Benson High School
Benson (population 408) is located in upper-central Illinois in the northeastern portion
of Woodford County. Illinois Route 116 is the main roadway through town and connnects it to Interstate Highway 39 four
and a half miles to the east. The At & St Railroad travel though Benson as well. A larger metropolis
near Benson would be Peoria, about 20 miles to the west-southwest of Benson.
The history of the town and its' school system is in need of updating and research by a local resident of
fan. Benson probably offered a school program for its children by the late 1800's. A high school was probably in
place by the late 1800's & certainly by the early 1900s.
Benson High School served the town's residents, and was a source of great pride, for many years. The
mid-1950's saw a change in the making. The neighboring towns of Roanoke and Benson began consolidation talks. This
effort became a reality in 1956 with the creation of the Roanoke-Benson School District.
This bit of information came Benson fan Ryan Koehler:
"The old high school in town is now the Roanoke-Benson Junior High School. The elementary school
for Roanoke-Benson is located in Roanoke and it is called Sowers Elementary. However, there was a previous
Benson K-12 school that was located where the village park is now. When the "new" high school was built (around mid-century)
the old high school became an elementary/middle school. That old school has been torn down, the only thing left of it
is a concrete sign."
The high school for the R-B system was located in Roanoke. The grade school was, and still is, located
in Benson. We believe classes are held in the original Benson High School building.
Benson High School Quick Facts
Year opened:
late 1800's/early 1900's
Year closed:
1956
Consolidated to:
Roanoke-Benson School District
Benson HS team nickname: the "Broncos"
Benson HS team colors: unavailable
School Fight Song:
unavailable
